Thong cutter



fies? L. E. GRISWOLD THONG CUTTER Original Filed April 2'7, 1923 March 22, 1927-.

Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

FFHQE.

LESTER E. enrswonn, or coLuMBus, orzro.

TI'IONG' CUTTER.

Application filed April 27, 1923, Serial No. 634,994. Renewed September 10, 1926.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for cutting thongs, strings or laces from discs of leather or similar materials, and my object is the provision of a simple, inexpensive apparatus by means of which leather scraps may be easily worked up into continuous thongs, strings or laces.

The invention consists in the devices and combination. of devices, the construction and arrangement of the parts thereof substantially as illustrated in the drawing hereinafter described, but particularly pointed out in the claims.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a wooden block, containing a longitudinal slot of variable depth, mounted on the edge of a smooth surfaced board. These two ele ments in combination suitably arranged constitute the essential construction, which used in conjunction with a sharp knife (pocket knife) held in the proper position, produces thongs, strings or laces of the desired width from leather discs.

In the accompanying drawings similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a front view of my invention,

Figure 2 is an end view thereof,

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section taken on line A-A of Figure 1,

Figure 4: is a similar View taken on the line 13-13 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a face view of a leather disk prepared for cutting as proposed by my invention,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus, showing the disk of Figure 5 in place,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the slotted guide block,

Figures 8 and 9 are top plan views of portions of the slotted guide block showing clifferent lines for the cutting blade thereof, and

Figure 10 is a partial longitudinal section through the block along the lines of its slot.

Referring now to these figures, I have shown an apparatus including a carrier plate 1 which preferably has one smooth guide and supporting surface and is preferably supported in use in nearly an upright position by means of supporting blocks 5, 5 so that a disk of leather such as shown in Figure 5 may rest flatwise against the smooth surface as illustrated in Figure 6.

To the lower edge of the carrier plate is secured a right angularly outstanding guide block 2, the lower edge of the carrier plate being recessed as at 4c centrally between its ends toform an opening above the upper surface of the block 2. This block has a slot 3 in its upper surface, the slot being of a gradually varying depth from one end to the other and extending parallel with and contiguous to the smooth guide surface of the carrier 1 so as to receive the lower portion of the leather disk therein.

lVith the, apparatus a knife blade which may be the ordinary pen knife, indicated at 8 in Figure 5is used, either transversely across the slotted block 2 as seen at 6 in Figures 7 and 9 or at an inclined angle as seen at 7 in Figures 7 and 8. This blade 8 of whatever its nature. and at what-ever angle it is placed, may be utilized at various points across the slot 3 in the length of the latter as indicated by the points 9 and 9 of Figure 10, so as to thus determine the thickness of the thong, lace or strip being cut. The recess or opening a permits the blade. to be extended through the carrier 1-.

To cut a thong 10 from a. disc of leather, Fig. 5, the knife blade 8 is placed in position shown in Fig. 5 and the disc and knife in the position shown are placed on the board 1, Fig. 6, and the leader 10 forced into slot 3 of block 2 and adjusted so as to fill the depth of slot at the point required to give the desired width. The knife blade is held firmly across the slot 3, the end projecting thru the board 1, opening 4:. The pressure of the right hand on the knife holds the cutter in place against the tension placed on the thong as the leader 10 is pulled into a thong with the left hand.

The operation is very rapidly performed and it is evident that scraps of leather of varying sizes may be thus readily worked up into continuous strings or thongs.

I am aware that prior to my invention leather thong cutters have been made to produce thongs, strings or laces from circular discs of leather, but having described the device, its operation and use, what I claim as my invention that is new, on which I desire to secure by'Letters Patent, is:

1. In a thong cutting device, the combination of an upright carrier slightly inclined to permit a leather disk to rest easily and freely rotate thereagainst, a slotted guide block outstanding along the lower portion of the carrier board with its slot opening upwardly adjacent to the board to receive the lower edge of a leather disk, and a cutting blade, the upper surface of the said guide block forming a fiat rest for the blade whereby the latter may be held transversely of and across the slot and define with the latter the width of the cut thong.

2. In a thong cutting device, the combination of an upright carrier slightly inclined to permit a leather disk to rest easily and freely rotate thereagainst, a slotted guide block outstanding along the lower portion of the carrier board with its slot opening upwardly adjacent to the board to receive the lower edge of a leather disk, the slot of the guide block gradually varying in depth,

. and a cutting blade, the guide block having an upper flat face whereby the blade may be held thereon transversely across the slot and shifted lengthwise of the latter to vary the thickness of the cut thong as described.

3. In a thong cutting device, the combination of an upright carrier slightly inclined to permit a leather disk to rest easily and freely rotate thereagainst, a slotted guide block outstanding along the lower portion of the carrier board with its slot opening upwardly adjacent to the board to receive the lower edge of a leather disk, and a cutting blade, the upper surface of the said guide block forming a flat rest for the blade whereby the latter may be held transversely of and across the slot and define with the latter the width of the cut thong, and the carrier board being cut away between its ends and immediately above the guide block to permit of extension of the cutting blade therethrough as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

LESTER E. GRISWOLD. 

